CMG unveils program list of 2026 Spring Festival Gala

China Media Group (CMG) on Monday unveiled the program lineup for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, the country's most-watched annual television event, just hours before its prime time broadcast at 20:00.

This year's Gala, themed "Galloping Steed, Onward Unstoppable", will showcase a diverse lineup of performances from singing and dance to opera, martial arts, skits and magic.

From innovative expressions of traditional culture to the cross-cultural fusion of Chinese and international arts, the entire gala is filled with fresh creativity and a festive, auspicious atmosphere, conveying the heartfelt warmth of shared spring across the globe.

The Gala links Beijing's main stage with sub-venues in Harbin in northeast China, Yiwu in Zhejiang Province and Hefei in Anhui Province of east China, and Yibin in southwest China, together offering a vibrant blend of tradition and modern flair.

Commonly known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, the gala has been broadcast live every Chinese New Year's Eve since 1983 and has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

The Gala's prominence was further underscored when the Spring Festival was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024.